Qi Gong for People, with Doug Blanc
Energy Balancing
Tap into your body’s own balancing energy. Qi Gong is a gentle, flowing exercise that works with the breath to improve the flow of qi throughout the body and balance all systems. It’s simple and fun! This is a drop-in class for all ages and skill levels.
Sucker Punches - From the Universe, by Duffy
One Person Play
Sharing my journey from SF Catholic upbringing to Dance Chief of the Water Dance ceremony in the Hi Desert. The events in enactment, word and song.
Movieland Murder, by Patricia West Del-Ruth
Short Film
The over- the- top, terrifying recollections and down to earth memories, of an iconic Hollywood suspense and horror director, as told by his aging and unstable widow
Trust Me, I’m From Essex - Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
One Person Play
In “Trust me, I’m from Essex”, Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett will take you on a journey through life growing up in notorious Essex, England. From going to an all girls Catholic school, rejecting the “typical blonde” Essex girl stereotype, wreckage at home, and finally realizing her dream of living in Los Angeles and creating a new home of her own.
Enjoy this fun filled journey with laughter, singing, dancing, and down right drama.
Trigger warnings There are themes of an adult nature.
Futakuchi Onna - Kristin Moran
One Person Play
A woman battles the curse she has inherited from her ancestors - the Futukuchi Onna. This Japanese monster, also known as a yokai, manifests as a heckling mouth on the back of her head. The Futakuchi Onna impedes the woman’s pursuit of music, destroys her relationships and leads her to despair. And yet, the Futukuchi Onna also has some lessons to teach. With acceptance, one can find balance, understanding and the courage it takes to be yourself.
This one-woman show features a short film, an original arrangement of the Japanese folk song, "Sakura" as well as "Mama's Lullaby" written for the artist's mother.
Lee Scott Electronic Ragas - Lee Scott
Music
I am a solo music performer. My music is best described as Electronic Indian music, with a touch of jazz. My pieces are inspired by North Indian Classical practices. I use a laptop that plays pre-recorded drones while I improvise playing melodic lines on synthesizer in the style of an Indian violinist. The music may be described as ambient or meditative.
Desperate to be Seen, Horrified of Being Known:
a Ghost Story - Vic Terry
Play
LIGHTS UP ON TWO ETHEREAL BEINGS IN A METAPHYSICAL SPACE - a mattress in the middle of the desert... heaven or hell, depending on who you're sharing it with. This darkly sensual, hilariously heartbreaking, twisted new comedy thrusts two restless spirits into the afterlife - THE GHOST, a man who lived and died by his reputation, who on the surface did everything right, but had a darkness brewing underneath... and THE GHOUL, a young woman who's absurd glamour reeks of tragic desperation, a little girl who always felt small and in death found a chance to become larger than life. As they discuss love, loss, identity, and regret - and coping with the fact that neither one of them have ever really felt alive - these two deeply complicated people reach their breaking point, as they both come to realize things aren't what they seem. This exciting new one act play - voted 'Best Ensemble Show' at the 2023 Tucson Fringe Festival - stars Michael Simpson as THE GHOST, playwright Vic Terry as THE GHOUL, and features a live original score by Verdell Smith of Soul Ablaze.
Film
Big Feet
When America’s sweetheart Bigfoot finds himself in a scandal that shows the world that “Bigfoot ain’t that big,” the legendary cryptid loses everything… including his sense of self! Created for Straight 8 in 2022 and shot on a Yashica Super 800 Electro from 1974, this film follows the iconic character as he heals through nature and finds himself by going back to his roots. This Good Vibe Cinema production was written by executive producer Vic Terry, shot by Michael Simpson, features an original score by Verdell Smith, and stars Manny Velazquez as ‘BIGFOOT.’
The Couple Next Door/The Throuple Next Door - Lynn, Annie & Andrew
Improvised Comedy
Lynn & Andrew, Annie present “The Couple Next Door” – a voyeuristic look into the private lives of the characters all around us. Lynn & Annie & Andrew will explore an array of characters & relationships and the stories that unfold in the world around them.
Twisted and Shouting: Solo People in Funny Shorts - Grey LeFey
Play
Twisted and Shouting: Solo People in Funny Shorts are selected for the Hi Desert Fringe from the showcase of comedy monologues written by Grey Forge LeFey. These peculiar characters are brought to distinct life by six talented actors of the high desert. Steel Sterling, Clark Coalson, and Lenore Loigne Castrata relate tales of life as an actor, country singer, and defamed Broadway diva. Priscilla Grace Supoupo is executive director of Accessorize the Children Fund, Buster Nuggets is an itinerant folk singer, and Queen Mariska of Schmeckelocorkia is baffled by Americans.
Dancing Song of Dead People in Other Worlds - Arjuna
One Person Play
The story of ISHI, the last surviving member of the Stone Age Yahi Tribe.
Using myths and chants of ISHI, storyteller, Arjuna,
will tell tell the story of the last five years of Ishi’s
Life, while living in the University of California anthropology Museum, San Francisco (1911-1915)
What Came First - Lauren Wolpert
One Person Play
Lauren Wolpert’s solo show, What Came First, leans heavily on the vestiges of cultural normality, from classic children’s literature, the kind read in bed for good time dreams, and traverses up through Hamlet’s existential reflections (with metaphoric twists), and continues past recent standards of complicit, unchallenged acceptance of war crimes, genocide, misogyny, abeyance of morality, and . . . it’s a comedy show. George Carlin would be satisfied.. Sixty minutes of fifteen scenes all delivered with moments of magic and metaphors: the Bobbsey Twins, poetry, and audience interaction with tiny, toy chickens, Marco Polo response (adult language), complete with questions about how the fuck did we lose the meaning of life.
Coelacanth - JD Rudometkin & Jorge Davis
Multi-Disciplinary Piece
Multi-disciplinary artists JD Rudometkin and Jorge Davies combine to bring Coelacanth, a post apocalyptic allegorical short story, to life through a reading of the story which will include both live and pre-recorded excerpts of the piece. The reading will be accompanied if not lead by a soundtrack that will include the experimental ambient music of Davies as well as musical contributions by Rudometkin. In addition to the music, visual elements will also accompany the story, immersing the audience in this world of shadows and sea sludge.
Memories d’Erik - Jenn Henry
Dance
Memories d’Erik traces a parallel between today’s understanding of mental health and the events in the lives of people from the past, that would have been seen in today’s society as mentally unfit or disturbed. Inspired by the life of the French composer Erik Satie, this work is drawn into the imaginary world of what should have felt by the title character in his last moments, flooded with happy and traumatizing memories. In the end, we are just extremely grateful for his legacy, full of hope that he may be doing music somewhere in a more elevated state.
242 Miles
Film
Danced in the same Mojave Desert that the constructed river flows through, "242 Miles" tells a few mundane stories of the incredibly audacious Colorado River Aqueduct: the workers who built it, the water flowing through it, the soft hum of the pumping station Huell Howser delighted over in an episode of "California's Gold."
A Wondrous Moment of Enlightened Memory - Wendy McColm
Play
A French New Wave Non Sequitur Dream, we can’t wait to remember with you.
What is Clown - Tumbleweed
Circus Performance
The many phases of play with Tumbleweed. See as she moves through play, dance, feeling and movement with her body and the props she hauls out by the suitcase. Some audience participation will be involved.
Feel No Urgency. Dare to be Dull - Andy Harmon
Improv Zen Workshop
In this workshop, we'll explore techniques of relaxation and presence derived from Zen Meditation, Viola Spolin's Theatre Games, and Voice Dialogue that will help you perform more effectively in whatever creative field you work. Research shows that the brain activates in a unique way when we get creative. It shows up on an MRI as neurons firing over the whole of the brain's surface, rather than concentrated in one particular brain region. Alert and relaxed at the same time, we're present in a playful, moment-by-moment way, ready for whatever happens, open and available for new ideas and connections.
Banned In Texas - Miri Hunter & Kevin Hayles
Reading and Discussion
Reading of excerpts from the banned book “Life is so Good,” followed by a discussion of what it means to BAN a book in America.
Short Attention Span Theatre - Ann Van Haney
Theatre workshop for Children
WARNING: This workshop may contain farts and zombies. Join us for a morning of all kinds of theatre games and crafts for kids 5-13. We will have small group breakout sessions for the different age groups and puppetry and mask making stations, Parents —- this will be educational! Kids — this will be fun!
Monster Olympics, by Sue Neal
Short Film
This is a story about being bullied, harassed and betrayed. But never giving up on your dreams! This short movie written by Sue Neal and directed by Donnie Earl with music by Mike Van Haney will have you rooting for the main character, Melvin.